Mites - What kind of bedding?

[midwestchickenwrangler]

I have a mite problem inside my barn. I noticed them on my white silkies and have been treating all the chickens in the barn since then. I switched from straw bedding to pine shavings hoping that would help. I have noticed an improvement, but no resolution. I tried using poultry dust from TSC (it didn't really work), now I am using Permethrin-10. It seems to be helping some, but not completely. I have been changing the bedding more often to try and eliminate some of the mite eggs that might be in there.

I have been reading about sand as bedding. Would that help any more than pine shavings? Any other suggestions are appreciated. I hate having the mites around.

 

[Mattemma]

Some love the sand. I tried it,but my coop gets wet,and there was a major funk smell coming from the sand. I went back to the pine. I say try the sand.It might help with your clean up of the mites,and later you can go back to other bedding if you don't really like it.

Are you spraying the birds and the coop? I have read of people using adams dog flea and tick spray on the chicken.If you keep a it you will get them all eventually.Just like the lice kids get.If you miss a few eggs the whole darn mess starts all over.

Even though the sand had a funky smell I really liked it.Easy to scoop the poop.Like a litter box.Plus it was so nice and cool in the shed.If I ever build a decent coop I am getting sand in it.

 

[midwestchickenwrangler]

Thanks for the input. I have read how easy sand is to keep clean, just never tried it. I think I will give it a shot when the pine shavings need cleaned.

Yes I have been spraying the coop as well. I will also try giving them a bath in flea & tick shampoo for dogs. I read that might help.